Container blank to form into various containers



Aug. 4, 1953 o. 1'. BOWDEN 2,647,621

CONTAINER BLANK TO FORM INTO VARIOUS CONTAINERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledSept; 2, 1950 INVENTOR. DexrerTBowden JY MLM Aug. 4, 1953 D. 'r. BowDEN2,647,621

CONTAINER BLANK To FORM INTO VARIOUS CONTAINERS Filed Sept. 2, 1950 2Sheets-Sheet 2 I INVENTOR. Dex+ev T. Bowder) /MM 3. 0.,&

patented Aug. 4, 195?;

CONTAINER BLANK TO FORM INTO VARIOUS CONTAINERS Dexter T. Bowden,Marblehead, Mass.

Application September 2, 1950, Serial No. 182,944

3 Claims.

three forms of containers mentioned above, and

Without having any of said portions appearing to be superfluous in anyof the various forms of containers.

Theforegoing and other objects which will appear as the nature of theinvention is better understood, may be accomplished by a construction,combination and arrangement of parts such as is disclosed by thedrawings. The nature of the invention is such as to render itsusceptible to variouschanges and modifications, and therefore, I am notto be limited to the construction disclosed by the drawings nor to theparticular parts described in the specification; but am entitled to allsuch changes therefrom as fall within the scope of my claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of my container blank lying flat and ready'to be formed into any one of the three containers above referred to...

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing my container blank early in theprocess of forming a dispensing container and Figure 31s a perspectiveView showing said blank later in said process.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of said dispensing container in completedform ready to hang on a wall, looking at the front thereof. Figure 5 isa similar perspective view but looking at the rear thereof.

Figure 6 is a longitudinal, sectional view of said dispensing containershown in position attached to a wall.

Figure '7 is a perspective view showing said dispensing container in theprocess of being changed to a display container.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of said display container in completedform, looking at the front thereof, a used on a counter to displaymerchandise. Figure 9 is a similar perspective view; but looking at therear thereof interior of said container.

Figure 10 is a perspective view showing said display container early inthe process of being changed to a closed shipping container and Figure11 is a similar view showing it later in the process. Figure 12 is asimilar view showing the final step in the process of closingsaidshipping container.

Figure 13 is a perspective view of said shipping container completed andclosed looking at the front thereof. Figure 14 is a similar perspectiveview; but looking at the rear thereof.

As illustrated, my display container may be made from a single piece ofmaterial, such a fiat cardboard, as shown in Figure 1 of the drawings.It has a back I6 in the lower half portion of which two slits I8 aremade and at the middle portion a left tab 20 and a right tab 2[ arestruck out of said back 16 and may extend slightly into the In the upperportion a hole 22 is provided whereby the container may be hung on a pinor nail 23 projecting from the wall W, when it is serving as adispenser, as shown in said Figure 6.

Said container has a top 24 commencing at a score 2S between it and saidback It. It also has a bottom 28 having a delivery opening 3t thereinwhich is a clear cutout extending from the front edge of said bottom 28to the rear half portion.

Said bottom commences at a score 32 between it and said back it.

At the left of said top 2 is a left upper brace 34 commencing at a score35 between it and said top 24, while at the right thereof is a rightupper brace 3'! commencing at a score 38 between it and said top. At theleft of said bottom 28 is a left lower brace lit commencing at a score4! while at the right thereof is a right lower brace 42 commencing at ascore 43 between it and said bottom 23. In assembling the portions of mycontainer said left braces 34 and 4B overlap as shown, for instance, inFigure 2 of the drawings, as do the two said right braces 31 and 32.

There is a left outer side portion 45 commencing at a score 45 and aright outer side portion 48 commencing at a score 49, said scores 48 and69 being made between said side portions and said back It, and said sideportions are not directly connected to said braces 34, 40, 37 and 32.

There is an inner left side portion 5! extending from a score 52 betweenit and said left outer side portion 45 and at an intermediate port ofsaid score 52 is a locking slit 53 between said inner and outer leftside portions 5i and 45 respectively. This intermediate slit 53 providesan upper catch portion 54 at the upper part of said score 52 and a lowercatch portion 55 at the lower part of said score 52 just above and belowrespectively the termination of said locking slit 53. There is a lip 56extending from a score 51 between it and said inner left side portion 5|which extends under said tab 20 when my container is assembled asillustrated at the left in said Figure 2.

There is an inner right side portion 58 extending from a score 59between it and said right outer side portion 48 and at an intermediatepart of said score 59 is a right locking slit 60 between said inner andouter right sides 58 and 48 respectively. This intermediate slit 69provides an upper catch potrion 6| at the upper part of said score 59and a lower catch portion 62 at the lower part of said score 59 justbelow the termination of said right locking slit 6!). There is a lip 63extending from a score 64 between it and said inner right side 58. Thesetwo pairs of inner and outer side portions, and said braces between thelatter, provide the two main sides of my container.

The foregoing provides an open container with a back, top, bottom andsides. It is also provided with a master front 65 embodying a frontclosure portion 66 which provides the entire front for the shippingcontainer shown in said Figure 13. Said front closure portion has anarcuate slit 68 in the upper half portion to thereby define a curveddisplay head 66a in said front closure portion 66. Above said arcuateslit 68 is a supporting portion 66b forming part of said front closureportion 66; but when the container is used as a dispenser or as adisplayer, as shown in Figures 4 and 8 of the drawings respectively,said supporting portion 66b serves as a back support for part of saidfront display head 66a. A score 12 between said top 24 and saidsupporting portion 66b divides said front closure portion 66 from saidtop 24.

There is a left display wing 14 at the left side of said front closureportion 66 with a score 15 between them, the top of said wing 14commencing where said arcuate slit 68 terminates at the left. There isalso a right display wing 11 at the right side of said front closureportion 66 with a score lii'between them, and its top likewise commenceswhere said arcuate slit 68 terminates at the right. These display wingsI4 and TI constitute inner side port-ions of the container when it is inclosed or shipping position.

There is a display wing left support 60 with a score 6i between it andsaid supporting portion 66b, and another score 62 between it and saidleft display wing 14. This left support 89 is directly rearward of saidleft display wing 74 when my container is used either as a dispenser oras a displayer. Also there is a display wing right support 84 with ascore 85 between it and said supporting portion 66b and another score 86between it and said right display wing TI. This right support 64 isdirectly rearward of said right display wing ll when my container isused as a dispenser or as a displayer. Thesedisplay wings increase thedisplay advertising space.

Said master front 65 has a portion serving as a bottom outside coverportion 88 divided from the lower end of said front closure. portion 66by a score 69, and beyond said bottom cover. 88 is a retainer 9! dividedfrom it by a score- 92, and extendin from said retainer 9i are twolocking 4 tabs 93 that are adapted to extend into said slits It in saidback I6 when the container is closed, as for shipment. These portions88, 9! and 93, together with said front portion 66, except saidsupporting portion 66b, serve as a front when my container is formed asa dispenser, being open at the lower end below said tabs 63, as shown insaid Figure 4, to permit withdrawal of merchandise.

A left side upper locking member 96 extends laterally from the lowerleft side of said front closure portion 66, being divided therefrom by ascore 97 which score terminates at its upper extremity in a slit 98 tothus provide a short, upper locking portion 96a in said side lockingmember which extends through said locking slit 53 and under said uppercatch portion 54 when a container is formed to use as a dispenser asshown in Figures 1-6 inclusive of the drawings. This locking member 96has an arcuate outside edge I66, as shown, to facilitate smooth rotativemovement when inserting it into said locking slit 53.

There is a right side upper locking member IUI which extends laterallyfrom the lower right side of said front closure portion 66, beingdivided therefrom by a score I62 which terminates at its upper extremityin a slit I63 to thus provide a short upper locking portion I'IlIa insaid locking member IUI which extends through said locking slit 69 andunder said upper catch portion BI when my container is formed to useas aretainer. This locking member IUI has an arcuate outside edge I95 asshown.

A left side lower locking member I66 extends laterally from the left ofsaid bottom outside cover 68, being divided therefrom by a score I61which terminates at its lower extremity in a slit I98 to thus provide ashort, lower locking portion I961; in said locking member I06 whichextends through said locking slit 53 and under said lower catch portion55 when my container is formed to use as a dispenser. This lockingmember I96 has an arcuate outside edge III] as shown and when said leftside locking members 96 and 106 are inserted into said locking slit 53they overlap somewhat as indicated in said Figure 3.

There is a right side lower locking member I II which extends laterallyfrom the right of said bottom outside cover 86, being divided therefromby a score II2 which terminates at its lower extremity in a slit I I3 tothus provide a short, lower locking portion la in said locking memberIII which extends through said locking slit 60 and under said lowercatch portion 62 when my container is formed to use as a dispenser. Anarcuate outside edge I I5 partly bounds said look-- ing member III. Saidright side upper locking member Itl and the lower one III provide ahalfcircle when my container is laid flat as shown in said Figure 1, andthis is also true of the left side locking members 96 and I06.

To assemble my container from the single sheet shown in said Figure 1,said pairs of braces 34 and 40, and 31 and 42, are brought into linerespectively with said left score 46 and said right score 49,overlapping each other asindi'cated at the right in said Figure 2. Thenthe two outer side portions 45 and 48 are moved over said braces to aposition where they also extend straight forwardly. The two innersides-5| and '58 are moved to theinside in a similar position, with saidlips 56 and 63 parallel with said 'b'ack I6. The tabs 29 and 2iare-placed'over said lips 56 and 63 respectively, which retains'them inposition against said'back lfiythusholding thesides ofmy container inpredetermined positionwith said bottom 28 and top 24 extending forwardlyalso, and with said slits 53 and 60 at the upper point between the innerand outer side portions in each instance. As thus formed at this pointan open container is provided which remains the same for all three formsit may later take.

, To form a dispenser, starting with said open container, said left andright display wings I4 and Il are folded against said left and rightsupports 66 and 84 and said display head portion 66a of said frontclosure portion 66 is thereby moved to the position shown in saidFigures 3 and 4, which is above and slightly forward of said top 24 withsaid supporting portion 66b rearwardly thereof. Thenthe pair of saidlocking members 96 and I66, and the other pair IflI and IIIareoverlapped somewhat, as shown in said Figure 3, and inserted in saidslits 53 and 66 respectively, rotating them downwardly somewhat. 'topositions where the left locking portions 96a and IIlBa are under saidcatch portions 54 and 55 respectively. Likewise said right lockingportions IflI a and I I Ia are under said catch portions GI and 82respectively. In this position said mas- I ter front 65 except for saidsupporting portion 66b, is wholly at the front, with a space betweensaid bottom 28 and said locking tabs 93 for the fingers to reach intothe container and withdraw merchandise. This dispenser may be placed, atsaid hole 22, on a nail or screw head projecting from a wall, asillustrated in said Figure 6, thus serving as a dispenser and alsoproviding a large overhead display for advertising.

To change said dispenser into a counter dis play container the fingersare inserted into the container under said front closure portion 66 andthe latter is pushed outwardly thus moving said locking portions out ofsaid slits, whereupon the said open container is ready to take form as acounter display container. This is done by pushing said locking members96, I06, IUI and III inside the container parallel with said sideportions BI and 58, or members 96 and It! may be placed against said top24 and members I06 and I II may be placed flat against said back I6, andalso said bottom outside cover portion 88 and said retainer 8| and itstabs 93 are pushed fiat against said back I6, while the lower part ofsaid front closure portion 66 is made fiush against said top 24. Thisleaves said display head 66a and said display wings I4 and I! inprominent view above the open container as shown in said Figure 8, withsaid back l6 serving as a bottom.

To provide a closed, shipping container, starting with the said opencontainer, said display Wings 14 and TI and their two supports 60 and84, as well as said upper locking members 96 and II, are inserted intosaid container in a position parallel with the sides thereof, thisreinforcing said sides. Said lower locking members I06 and III areinserted between said pairs of side portions 45, 5! and 48, 58respectively, or they may be folded to a position parallel with saidbottom cover portion 88 and the latter is drawn to a position outside ofand next to said bottom 28, and then said retainer 9| is drawn outsideof and over the lower part of said back I6 and the locking tabs 63 areinserted into said slits I8. This provides a closed, shipping containerin which the whole of said front closure portion 66, including saidsupporting portion 66b, constitutes the front of the closed container.

What I claim is:

1. A container blank scored to form a back,

top, bottom and two sides, said back having a.

slit therein adjacent the bottom, each said side embodying an inner sideportion and an outer side portion inwardly hinged along a scored lineand having a slit that extends longitudinally between them along saidscored line, a master front hinged to said top along a scored line, saidmaster front embodying a front closure portion and a supporting portionin scored relationship to said top, said front closure portion having anarcuate .slit therein dividing it from said supporting portion anddefining a display head portion adapted .to extend above said top, saidmaster front also embodying a bottom cover portion hinged to said frontclosure portion along a scored line and a retainer in scoredrelationship to said bottom cover portion, said retainer having a tab atone extremity adapted to enter said slit in said back when said blank isin the form of a shipping container, similar pairs of locking membersextending laterally from the side of the bottom cover portion and theadjacent end of the front closure portion and hinged thereto alongscored lines, each pair defining a substantially semicircular area andseparated from each other by a cut extending from and aligned with thescored line separating said bottom cover portion from said front closureportion, said pairs of locking members being adapted to enter saidsecondnamed slits when said master front is spaced from said bottom andis folded in the position to form a dispenser.

2. A container blank scored to form a back, top, bottom and two sides,said back having a slit therein adjacent the bottom, each said sideembodying an inner side portion and an outer side portion inwardlyhinged along a scored line and having a slit that extends longitudinallybetween them along said scored line, a master front hinged to said topalong a scored line, said master front embodying a front closure portionand a supporting portion in scored relationship to said top, said frontclosure portion having an arcuate slit therein dividing it from saidsupporting portion and defining a display head portion adapted to extendabove said top, said master front also embodying a bottom cover portionhinged to said front closure portion along a scored line and a retainerin scored relationship to said bottom cover portion, said retainerhaving a tab at one extremity adapted to enter said slit in said backwhen said blank is in the form of a shipping container, similar pairs oflocking members extending laterally from the side of the bottom coverportion and the adjacent end of the front closure portion and hingedthereto along scored lines, each pair defining a substantiallysemicircular area and separated from each other by a cut extending fromand aligned with the scored line separating said bottom cover portionfrom said closure portion, said pairs of locking members beng adapted toenter said second-named slits when said master front is spaced from saidbottom and is folded in the position to form a dispenser, said lockingmembers each having a slit extending from the outside of and part wayalong said scored lines that extend between a said looking member andsaid bottom cover portion and between a said locking member and saidfront closure portion.

3. A container blank scored to form a back, top, bottom and two sides,each said side embodying an inner side portion and an outer side portioninwardly hinged along a scored line and having a slit that extendslongitudinally between them along said scored line, a master fronthinged to said top along a scored line, said master front embodying afront closure portion and a supporting portion in scored relationship tosaid top, said front closure portion having an arcuate slit thereindividing it from said'supporting portion and defining a display headportion adapted to extend abovesaid top, said master front alsoembodying a bottom cover portion hinged to said front closure portionalong a scored line and a retainer in scored relationship to said bottomcover portion, similar pairs of locking members extending laterally fromthe side of'the bottom cover portion and the adjacent end of the frontclosure portion and hinged thereto along scored lines, each pairdefining a substantially semicircular area and separated from each otherby a cut extendingfrom and aligned with the scored line separating saidbottom cover portion from said front closure portion, said pairs oflocking members being adapted to enter said secondnamed slits when saidmaster front is spaced from said bottom and is folded in the position toform a dispenser.

DEXTER T. BOWDEN.

References Cited in the me of this patent UNITED STATES! PATENTS NumberNumber I 6,262

Name Date Van Iderstine May 18, 1920 Weymuth Apr. 11, 1922 Ten-Eyck Oct.31, 1922 Furs'te Apr. 21, 1925 Tinsley Jan. 6, 1931 Klein July 19, 1938Davidson Sept. 8, 1942 Levkoif Nov. 9, 1943 Gariepy Dec. 28, 1943Gottlieb May 15, 1945 Bonini Mar. 29, 1949 Van Rosen v .July 11, 1950FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Australia Mar. 5, 1923 Germany Mar. 20,1937

